5% POVERTY RATE INCREASE EXPECTED IN ARMENIA: IMF
news.am
Nov 11 2009
Armenia
Poverty rate in Armenia might increase by 5% and make 25% as a result
of global crisis, IMF resident representative Nienke Oomes said while
presenting a "Prospects of regional economy development in Caucasian
and Central Asian countries" report to Yerevan State University
students, Nov. 10.
Income per capita rise and poverty reduction is expected in countries
like Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, however
poverty rate growth will be registered in Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan
and Kyrgyzstan. According to IMF forecasts, the population incomes
will decrease by 5%, as private transfers from abroad reduced. "The
recession of demand in labor market may entail the unemployment rate
increase," Oomes said.
According to "Armenia’s social arrears and poverty" report, the
poverty rate in Armenia last year reduced for 1.5% making 23.5%.
Recently a breakthrough in consumer goods was registered, that will
boom when gas and electricity prices go up in April 2010.